[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           FUND OUR VETERANS

  (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, this is day 30. That is 30 days so far our 
veterans have not had the use of the increased funding for their 
benefits and health care. That is $18.5 million a day not able to be 
used. And why? Because the Democratic leadership has decided to not 
complete this bill and send it to the President who has agreed to sign 
it.
  In June, this House passed this appropriation bill with a $6 billion 
increase in a bipartisan manner. We were proud of our work and grateful 
to our veterans. On September 6, the Senate completed their bill. This 
work is done. Our veterans are not pawns in a political game. They are 
heroes.
  America expects us to get the job done. America expects us to provide 
the best care to our veterans. Please join me in calling upon the 
Democratic leadership to put our veterans first and send this bill to 
the President now.

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